Tales from the Ironwood

Imbedded deep in the ancestral faith is the understanding that there is no "blind fate" but rather self-creating power over destiny itself.  Recorded on the 4th of September 2023. ********* I recently participated in a somewhat heated discussion about whether, as Ásatrúars, we believe in “free will.” Several folks made the argument that, within our Germanic belief system, there is no such thing as “free will” —all is predetermined. Essentially the point was that, not unlike Macbeth and others, we cannot escape our fate. I was among those who strongly disagreed with this position. While matters of fate and destiny ( wyrd ) play a significant theme throughout the lore, the concept is best captured by the Norns — who are constantly weaving our wyrd. It is worth considering that nowhere in the lore do we encounter an image of Norns sitting around a finished garment — sipping tea and admiring their completed work. The images of the Norns and wyrd throughout the lore are assoc...

I have tread a path which has led me to this very spot. Each step has brought me nearer and nearer to the very place where I now stand. While there was always choice, how could I do other than what I have done? The great wonder remains--have I tread this path before?  Written between 30 July and 6 August 2023. ********* Anyone who might choose to plumb the depths of the works of Guido von List (5 October 1848 – 17 May 1919), will discover several unfamiliar terms. Among these terms, coined by List, and used frequently throughout his works, is Garma . On the surface this strange word appears to be the equivalent of the Sanskrit-derived karma (“action”). Indeed, for List, there is a close etymological association between the words. Consistently, however, List chose to use Garma throughout his writings rather than karma . Stephen Flowers points out that List had no issue using the Sanskrit term Rita (“Cosmic Order”),[1] leaving readers perplexed as to why List seemingly coined his ...

This short biography was written on 30 April 2023. It is intended as the first of a series of "portraits" of important figures in the twentieth century runic revival. It was written specifically for Knights of Runes and is included on their website. ********* Guido von List (5 October 1848 - 17 May 1919) was born in Vienna, Austria. Throughout his youth, List was an avid outdoorsman. He spent considerable time boating and mountaineering. He also dedicated himself to the study of history, archeology, and anthropology. His thoughts on a wide range of subjects were recorded in numerous articles.[1]The youthful List was already demonstrating his interest in the mystical world. He later described an episode that occurred when he was only fourteen years old: “After much asking, [I] received permission from my father to accompany him and his party who were planning to visit the catacombs [beneath St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna] which were at that time still in their original cond...

I've been planning this article for some time. Clearly there is much more to explore on the topic of Rune-Zodiac correspondence as well as indications of Zodiac references in the old lore. With this article, I only begin to scratch the surface.  Written on 7 and 8 April 2023. ********* Various Rune Masters have long associated runic systems with the Zodiac. This has been accomplished in different ways, however, through the years. Siegfried Kummer provided such correspondences in his Holy Rune Might: Rebirth of Armanendom through Rune Exercises and Dance . His system aligned a single rune with each of the 12 Zodiac signs over a three-year cycle, for example, he aligned Aries with FA in the first cycle. Kummer used this method, in part, to address the challenge of aligning 18 runes with only 12 Zodiac signs. Hence, over three years, the 36 Zodiac signs (12 x 3=36) align evenly with two sets of the 18-Rune Futhorkh (18 x 2=36). If one reviews the diagram of Kummer’s rune circle, you ...

The article that follows served originally as a chapter of my Treatise on the Armanen Runes that was submitted as my masterwork to satisfy one requirement to become a Runemaster in Knights of Runes. The Treatise was written between 3 June 2019 and 15 August 2021. Edited on 7 April 2023. ********* The Armanen Runes stand out among the various rune systems in that, by nature, they are esoteric. The other systems, especially, the Elder Futhark may be studied and used in mundane ways, for example conveying a simple message – or even writing lengthy articles or books. I recall a project in which an organization was planning to produce and publish a copy of the Poetic Edda  written entirely with Elder Futhark runes. As questionable as such a project may have been, it would certainly have been foolish had the plan been to use the Armanen Futhorkh. The Armanen Runes are found originally in the Hávamál – "the words of the High One." Many tend to forget that this important lay from ...

What follows are my initial thoughts on the Vindelev Bracteate. These were written between 11 and 12 March 2023. ********* The Vindelev Bracteate (discovered in Vindelev, Denmark in 2020) has been all over the news recently since it was announced that the previously undeciphered runes on the fifth century golden disc were, at least partly, determined.[1] Reports from around the world took special notice of the discovery of the sensational phrase, "He (is) Odin's man," perhaps the earliest reference to the chief god of Norse and Germanic mythology. In English letters, this phrase is rendered as iR Wod[I]nas weraR . For those attempting to match the English to the runes visible on photographs of the bracteate, the key phrase appears around Odin's head near the bottom of his hair on the right side and is read from right to left. It is important to note that there are other runes on this piece. It is not fully clear in images that I have seen, but the runes may go around ...

This work was written between 27 August 2022 and 20 February 2023. During this time, I overcame many challenges and obstacles to bring this work to fruition. Through this study, I have come to better understand Siegfried Kummer. I appreciate his enthusiasm, his approach, and his lamentations over the destruction wrought by those black magicians who chose to take the easier, inviting path. ********* Tucked away at the end of Siegfried Kummer’s Runen-Magie ( Rune-Magic ) is the Runen-Futhorktafel (Runic Futhork Table).[1] The Futhork Table lists 21 Rune rows and provides important insight into Kummer’s knowledge of the various rune systems known at the time of the publication of Runen-Magie (1933). Such analysis reveals not only the variability of the known Rune rows at the time but provides greater clarity of the depth of understanding that Kummer and his fellow Armanists had of the runes. Kummer’s Table is basically divided into two halves. The first half (columns 1-9) lists kno...